Means for cutting coil-springs.



PATENTED DEC. 10, 1907.

N. S. HARTER. MEANS FOR CUTTING COIL SPRINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23 1907 coihn NOAH s. HARTER, 0F WAUKEGAN, ILLINOICOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

s, AssIeNOR TO AMEBICANSTEEL & WIRE A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MEANS FOR CUTTING COIL-SPRINGS.

No. 873,430. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 10, 1907.

Application filed May 23 1907. Serial No. 375.301.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NOAH S. HARTER, of Waukegan, Lake county, Illinois,have invented a new and useful Means for Cutting Coil-Springs, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accom anying drawings, forming part of this specification, inwhich the figure is a perspective view, largely diagrammatic, showingapparatus embodying-my invention.

y invention has relation to means for cutting the coil springs afterthey have been wound into suitable lengths, and is designed to providemeans for this purpose having cutting mechanism arranged to beautomatically thrown into action at the proper times by the closure ofan electric circuit which is effected by means of circuit-closingmechanism located in the path Of and actuated by the movement ofthespring.

A further object is to provide mechanism of this character for thecircuit-closing means so arranged that it can be conveniently adjustedin a irection' parallel to the axis of the coiledispring to becut, andalso around such axis in a path parallel to the periphery of the spring,whereby the length of the cut may be varied and the ends of the wire inthe severed coil may be located at any desired angle relative to eachother.

My invention consists in the combination with a suitable coile'r orcoiling means, of a cutting mechanism, means such as a clutch forautomatically drawing the cutting mech- 4 anism into and'out ofoperation, an electromagnetic device for controlling the operation ofthe clutch, and means for closing the circuit of said device operated bythe movement of the coil spring to be out.

It also consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combinationof arts all substantially as hereinafter descri ed and pointed out inthe appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates a main frame uponwhich the cuttingand other mechanism is supported. i

3 designates the wire to be coiled, which is passed between the coactingwheels or rollers 4 between which it is clamped, and b which it isforced through the guides 5 an 6, and thence around a coiling arbor ormandrel 7 to form a coil spring, as shown at 8. The end portion of thearbor or mandrel is cut 15 is loosely mounted on the shaft 13, and isarranged to be put into and out of driving connection therewith b meansof the clutch hub 17 and movabfc clutch member 17". The clutch member17* is engaged by a clutch shifting arm 18, whose lower end is connectedto the armature 1,9 of the electromagnets 20. These magnets are includedin a normally open circuit 21 which is arranged to be closed by the enagement of the two contacts 22 and 23. Tie contact 22 is carried by anarm 24, which is loosely mounted on a shaft or other support 25, and isnormally held in the position shown in the drawing by means of a spring26. The contact 23 Is carried by an arm 27, also mounted on the shaft orsupport 25 and having a spring 28.

The arm 24 has a projection 24 which extends into the path of movementof the coil 8 as it movesofl from the coiling arbor or mandrel 7.

The shaft or support 25 is shown as car ried by an arm 30, which ispivoted at 31 to an arm 32 carried by a shaft 33 which is longitudinallyadjustable in the frame 2, its adustment being secured by any suitablemeans such as the set screw 34. The pivot 31 has its axis in the line ofthe axis of the coil 8, and the arm 10 can be swung about this centerinto any desired position, its adjustment being secured by any suitablemeans such as the nut 35. The arm 32 may also be adjusted angularlyabout its point of connection 36 with the shaft 33.

The shaft 33 being adjusted so as to bring the finger 24 at the properdistance from the end of the arbor or mandrel 7, according to the len thof out which it is desired to make, the end of the coil as it leaves themandrel will come into engagement with the portion 24 of said finger,and will thereby move the same to cause the engagement of the twocontacts 22 and 23. 21, and energizes the magnet 20. The armature 19 isthereby attracted, which operates the clutch from the arm 18 to throwthe clutch member 17 into engagement with away to form a cutting edge 9which is adaptthe clutch hub 17. This causes the rotation ThlS closesthe circuit g eraaao of the shaft 13 andthe actuation of the cutter bar10, the latter shearing the coil across the cutting edge 9 of the arbor.The cut portion of the spring now drops away, and the springs 26 and 28cause the separation of the contacts 22 and 23' to open the circuit 21.Theclutch shifting arm 18 is now actuated by a spring 18 to cause thedisengagement of the clutch members. The cutter will now remain idleuntil another length of spring acts upon the arm 24 to again close thecircuit, when the operations described will be repeated.

By adjusting the finger 24 in its support around the center 31, which asabove stated is coincident with the axis of the coil, the coil can becut so as to leave the ends of the wire at the two ends of the severedlength at any desired angle relative to each other. By adjusting thefinger 24 towards and away from the end of the mandrel or arbor, anydesired length of cut may be made. Slight adjustments can be made bymoving said finger on the support 25, while a greater adjustment ispermitted by moving the shaft 33 in its support in the main frame.

The present invention is independent of any particular coilingmechanism, and may be used in connection with coiling mechanism of anydesired character.

Various changes may be made in the character and arrangement of thecutting mechanism, in the actuating means therefor, and

in the manner of arranging, supportingand adjusting the circuit-closingdevices, the illustration shown being largely diagrammatic in itscharacter.

What I claim is 1. In mechanism for formin coil-springs, a coiling meanswhich rotates t e coil. as it is formed, a cutter, electro-magneticmeans for controlling the action of the cutter, and acircuit-controlling device located in the path of the rotating end ofthe coil wire and closed by the rotatin movement thereof, substantiallyas descri ed.

2. In mechanism for formin coil springs, a coiling means which rotatesthe coil as it is formed, a cutter, electro-magnetic means forcontrolling the action of the cutter, and a cir cuit-controlling devicelocated in the path of the rotating end of the coil wire and closed bythe rotating movement thereof, together with means for adjusting theangular position of said device with reference to the axis of the coil,whereby the cut ends of the wire at the two ends of the coil may be inany desired angular relation to each other, substantially as described.

3. In mechanism for formin coil springs, a coiling means which rotates te coil as it is formed, a cutter, an electro-magnetic means forcontrollin the action of the cutter, and a circuit-contro ling devicelocated in the path of the rotating end of the coil wire and closed bythe rotating movement thereof, together with means for adjusting saiddevice longitudinally and also an ularly with res ect to the axis of thecoil, w ereby the lengt l of the cut coil may be varied, and the cutends of the wire at the two ends of the coil may be in an desiredangular relation to each other, su stantially as described.

4. In mechanism for forming Wire coils, a coiling means which rotatesthe ends of the coil, and a circuitclosing device arranged to be engagedand closed by the rotating end of the coil, substantially as described.

5. In mechanism of the character described, cutting means, anelectro-ma'gnetic device for controlling the operation of the cuttinmeans, a circuit closer for the circuit of sai device operated by themovement of the metal to be cut, and means for adjusting the angularposition of said device with reference to the axis of the coil;substantially as described. a

6. In mechanism for cutting coil springs, the combination with a coilinr arbor or mandrel, of a cuttin device, e ectro-magnctic means forcontro ling the operation of the cutting device, and a circuit-closerfor controllin the circuit of said device, said circuit closer eingmounted in the ath of movement of the coil and adjustabl towards andaway from the mandrel; substantially as described.

7. In mechanism for forming wire coils, a fixed mandrel, a coilin devicewhich rotates the coil on the mandre as it is formed, a cuttingmechanism, gearing for operating the cutting mechanism, a clutch forcontrolling the operation of the gearing, an electro-magnet forcontrolling the clutch, and a circuitclosing device arran ed to beactuated by the rotating end of tl ie coil, substantially as described.

8. In mechanism for forming coil springs,

a coiling means having a former about which the coil is wound and fromwhich the wound coil is moved, a cutter, electro-magnetic means forcontrolling the action of the cutter, and a circuit-controlling devicelocated in the path of the end of the coil as it leaves the mandrel andarranged to be closed by the natural movement of the coil; substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

NOAH S. HARTER.

Witnesses:

F. T. PULSE, A. C. WARD.

